What was the historical context in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'?

Answer 1

Historical Context

Aestheticism and Decadence

Aestheticism was a literary movement in late nineteenth-century France and Britain. It was a reaction to the notion that all art should have a utilitarian or social value. According to the Aesthetic Movement, art justifies its own existence by expressing and embodying beauty. The slogan of the movement was "art for art's sake," and it contrasted the perfection possible through art with what it regarded as the imperfections of nature and of real life. The artist should not concern himself with political or social issues.

In France, Aestheticism was associated with the work of Charles Baudelaire, Gustave Flaubert, and Stéphane Mallarmé. In England, its chief theorist was Walter Pater (1839 - 1894), who was a professor of classics at Oxford University. In contrast to the usual Victorian emphasis on work and social responsibility, Pater emphasized the fleeting nature of life and argued that the most important thing was to relish the exquisite sensations life brings, especially those stimulated by a work of art. The aim was to be fully present and to live vividly in each passing moment. As Pater put it in the "Conclusion" to his work Studies in the History of the Renaissance (1873), which is in effect a manifesto of the Aesthetic Movement in England, "To burn always with this hard, gemlike flame, to maintain this ecstasy, is success in life." This is in complete opposition to the prevailing Victorian mentality, with its emphasis on hard work, moral earnestness, and material success.

Wilde was an admirer of Pater, and it was Wilde who later became the representative figure of Aestheticism. Pater's influence on The Picture of Dorian Gray was profound. When Dorian adopts Lord Henry's belief that the aim of the new Hedonism "was to be experience itself, and not the fruits of experience" he is virtually quoting Pater's "Conclusion," in which he writes, "Not the fruit of experience, but experience itself, is the end."

Pater was a key figure in the emergence of the later movement in England and France known as Decadence. This movement flourished in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, a period also known as fin de siècle (end of the century). Decadent writers believed that Western civilization was in a condition of decay, and they attacked the accepted moral and ethical standards of the day. The theory of Decadence was that all "natural" forms and behaviors were inherently flawed; therefore, highly artificial, "unnatural" forms and styles were to be cultivated, in life as well as art. Many Decadent writers therefore experimented with lifestyles that involved drugs and depravity (just as Dorian does in The Picture of Dorian Gray).

One influential work of the Decadent movement was À Rebours (Against the Grain), a novel by French writer, J. K. Huysmans, published in 1884. The protagonist is estranged from Parisian society and continually seeks out strange and new experiences. It is generally accepted that À Rebours is the novel that Lord Henry sends to Dorian Gray and which fascinates and grips Dorian for years.

Another example of Decadent literature is Wilde's play Salomé, with its lurid subject and imagery of blood, sex, and death. In addition to Wilde, Decadence in England was associated with the poets Algernon Swinburne and Ernest Dowson, and the painter, Aubrey Beardsley.

Compare & Contrast

• 1890s: Male homosexuality is a crime in England, punishable by imprisonment.
  Today: Homosexuality is no longer a crime. In law, homosexual people are treated the same as everyone else. However, many people holding conservative and religious views based on The Bible still regard homosexuality as a sin.
• 1890s: Britain is the foremost power in the world but faces increasing rivalry from the growing industrial and military strength of Germany.
  Today: Britain and Germany, having fought against each other in two world wars, are now allies within the European Community and NATO. Britain is no longer the leading power in the world.
• 1890s: Class divisions are emphatic in Britain, and there is a wide contrast in dress, manners, and way of life between those who are comfortably off and those who are poor. Families are large. Only working class women take employment outside the home. University education is not available for women of any class or for the working classes.
  Today: Britain is a more egalitarian society than at any time in its history. The influence of mass culture, through television, films, and advertising, has tended to erode differences between classes in dress and manners. Women of all classes now make up a large percentage of the workforce, and higher education is open to all.

Answer 2

There are several conflicts in The Picture of Dorian Gray. One of the main ones is the conflict between appearance and reality. Dorian is an exquisitely beautiful man, who looks innocent and young, but as the story goes on and there are no external consequences for his actions, his inner nature becomes more and more ugly and evil. This is reflected in the painting.

Another conflict might be internal vs. external motivation. If bad things that we did wouldn't hurt us... if there were no consequences that affected us individually... would that remove our reasons to be good? Are consequences to *other* people enough to stop us?

Answer 3

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was Oscar Wilde's only novel, published in 1890. It was scandalous, mainly because of its homoerotic themes, and regarded as "immoral" -- not something suitable for "an innocent woman" to read. Before it was published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, the editors made numerous changes without Wilde's knowledge. He later made many changes and revisions himself, but reviews of the book were poor. The critics objected to the subject matter, yet could not help but praise Wilde's literary gifts. Over the decades, as societal conventions have fallen by the wayside, "Dorian Gray" has become recognized as a classic. It is a spooky, atmospheric Gothic novel with a Faustian theme -- Dorian literally sells his soul to the devil. (The 1945 film version is an excellent introduction to the story; a fine companion to reading the book. While various elements of the story had to be toned down to keep the censors happy, it still works very well, and Hurd Hatfield makes for a very enigmatic Dorian.)

Answer 4

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was written by Oscar Wilde in the late 19th century, a period of significant social and cultural change in Britain. The Industrial Revolution brought about new wealth and advancements, while there were also shifts in moral values and attitudes towards art and beauty. Wilde's novel reflects these tensions through its exploration of aestheticism, morality, and the consequences of vanity and hedonism in Victorian society.

Answer 5

It bears the signs of Dorian's depravity and aging.

Answer 6

Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian, or age itself are all possibilities.

Answer 7

everywhere.